Seeding machine



T. J. McBRIDE.

SEEDING MACHINE. I APPLICATION FILED NOV. 17. 1920.

1,407,796. Patented Feb. 28, 1922.

\ 3 SHEETS-SHEET1 T. J. McBRlDE.

SEEDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED N0V117. 1920.

1,407,796, Patented Feb. 28, 1922.

3 $HEETS-SHEET 3- ATT UNITED STATES THOMAS J, MCBRIDE, OF CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND.

SEEDING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 28, 1922,

Application filed November 1'7, 1920. Serial No. 424,683.

To all whom it may concern Be itknown that I, THOMAS Janus Mc- Bmnn, of the city of Christchurch, New Zealand, a subject of the King of Great Brit ain, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Seeding Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for sowing grain or other seeds, in which a plurality of seed runs are employed fed from a common hopper, and more particularly'to seeding machines such as described and shown in my co-pending United States .application No. 317532 filed August 14th, 1919,

in which the feed is effected mainly by the action of gravity aided by jets of air.

In the present invention, my object is to devise a specific construction which includes all the best features of several different constructions disclosed in that application, combined with new features, to produce a seeder which is easily and cheaply manufactured and which will feed the seedevenly, with a minimum expenditure of power and without damage to the seed.

I attain my object by means of the constructions hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a. cross section through the seed box of a machine constructed in accordance with my invention; l i

Fig. 2 a similar view showing a slight modification;

Fig. 3 a plan View of part of the same;

Fig. at a rear elevation of the same, partly in section; h

Fig. 5 a detailed section of part, of the same;

Fig. 6 a' sectional view of the hopper showing'the means for adjusting the position of the nozzles; and

F ig. 7 a rear view of the same.

In the drawings like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures. V

l is a metal member,.preferably an angle bar, which forms the lower part of the hopper 2. This metal member serves to support. the various parts immedlately concernec with the delivery of the seed so that such parts may be assembled on the metal memher previous to the metal member being ins'erted in position at the bottom of the hopper; By this arrangement 1 ensure that all the parts are properly positioned in the first place and that they remain so during the I cureda down pipe 4;, preferably by means of lugs 5 suitably bolted, riveted, or otherwise secured to the metal member.

Each down pipe eiis preferably provided with glazed opening through which the flow of seed through the outlet may be observed and the operation of the machine thus checked.

Over each outlet a shield is suitably supported adapted to prevent direct passage of seed from the hopper to the outlet. These shields preferably comprise a part? connected to the member 1 and a part 8 movable with the nozzle 9. These nozzles are secured to the tubular shaft 10 journalled, in a man ner hereinafter described, so that. the lower ends of the nozzles may be swung to and from the seed outlets to regulate the discharge therefrom as will hereinafter appear. The part 7 of each shield is formed on or secured to the metal member 1 and may be either stationary as shown in Fig. 1, or vertically movableas shown in Fig. 2, in the latter case the parts 7 being held in position by a bolt or bolts 11 passing through vertical slots in the shield.

The upper surface of the part 7 of each shield is curved on an arc, the'center of which is located in the axis of the tubular shaft 10,'and the part 8 of the shield is adapted to ride over the part 7 so as-to prevent grainpassing between the two parts.

It will be noted that each down pipe has cheekpieces 12 formed thereon, which passv through the seed outlet and form sides therefor. Y

1 find that to secure satisfactory results, it is necessary to provide positive means for causing the seed to flow underneath the shields to the outlets. Various moving devices maybe employed for this purpose. I

prefer, however, to use a bar13 adapted to be reciproeated for the purpose of carrying the seed or material to each of the outlets. This bar is suitably seated onthe metal memher 1 and extends longitudinally of the hopper. Anti-friction bearingsare preferably provided for this bar, and such will usually comprise rollers 14 journaled on the memher 1, the barbeing provided w th guldes at its under side to fit against these rollers as shown. The bar is thus accurately positioned by the rollers.

Suitable openings 15 are provided'in the metal member beneath'the bar 13 for the escape of dust, dirt andany foreign matter which may get underneath the bar. The upper surface of this bar 13, at least adjacent the outlets is preferably curved approxi-' mately concentric'with the arch in which the end of the adjacent nozzle swings, so that the nozzleat each adjustment does not vary its distance from the bar.

To facilitate the feed, serrations 16 are formed on the upper surface of the bar at least adjacent to the shield to assist in the conveying the seed beneath the shields. While any suitable means may be provided to rock the bar, I preferably secure to the bar a lug 17 pivotally connected to the upper end of a lever 18 fulcrumed on the frame of the machine and having its lower end provided with a roller adapted to engage a groove in a cam 19 secured to the axle 20 of the seeder. 1

The ends of the metal member 1. aresecured to metal brackets 21 at the ends of the hopper. An opening 22 is formed between the member 1 and the bracket 21, and also through the end of the hopper through which the adjacent end of the bar 13 passes. This bar is so proportioned thatat all times as it is reciprocated it closes the openings at each end of the hopper. By so, arranging this bar, the full length of the hopper may be utilized, and a maximum number of outlets employed relative to the length of the hopper, as no waste space is left at either end. j

The tubular shaft has its end bearings in the brackets 21, and consequently the shaft with its nozzles may be positioned before the metal member 1 with the end brackets is secured in. position in the hopper. It will be noted that each nozzle is provided with a split sleeve 23 adapted to be clamped about the tubular shaft by means of a bolt 24, while the opening 25 through the nozzle is adapted'to maintain connnunicationwith an opening 26 in the tubular shaft through a moderately wide range of adjustmentirelative to the shaft either longitudinally or angularly. Each nozzle may thus be, separately and, readily. adjusted relative to the outlet 3*with which it co-operates.

It will also be noted that wings 27 are formed, at each side of-the 'lower end of the nozzlebeneath the part 8 of the shield. These wingsserve-as closures to the outlet when the nozzle isjrocked sufficiently towards the outlet.

As previously stated, the part8 of the shield carriedby the'nozzle maybefixed topjthe nozzle as shown in Fig. for may be a separate part as shown in Fig. 2', where a vertically adjustable part 7 is illustrated. Vertical adjustment of the part 7 necessarily involves a vertical movement of the part 8 relative to the nozzle.

In Fig. 2 the part 8 is shown as having an opening therein fitting closely about the stem of the nozzle, but having a sufiiciently easy fit to slide freely thereon.

In this case the rear end of-the shield is provided with downwardly bent lugs 28,

which serve to close the space above the wings 27 of the nozzle, which space must necessarily be left in the part 7 to permit of its embracing the wings 27 as it is vertically adjusted. The part 8 with the lugs 28 is preferably formed of malleable metal, so that the lugs are easily spread to permit of the application of the member 8 about the shank of the nozzle. 7 3

.The tubularshaft 10 is connected with the pipe 29 leading to the blower 3,0, which is suitably supported on the frame of the machine and is driven .by sprocket gearing 31 from the axle of the machinel The connection between the pipe 29 and the tubular shaft 10 is preferably by means of a sleeve 32 having a suitable portwhieh maintains connection with a port in the tubular shaft throughout the fextent of the rotary adjustment of the latter.

It is foundthat if for any reason the ma chine is stopped, the air blast from the blower continues for a suflicient length of time to blow all the seed from in front of the nozzles 9 so that when the machine again starts it travels several feet beforeseeding again begins.

Blank spaces are thusleft in the drills, which it is desirable to prevent.

I thereforeprovide somewhere in the piping system, preferably in the pipe 29, a cut-off valve 33, which may be closed either manually or automatically the instant the machine comes to a stop. f

To adjust the position of the nozzles relative to the seed outlet, I provide the following mechanism: Transversely of the hopper l slidably support the rod 34;. One end of this rod has a cross pin 35 passing through it, which cross pin engages inj aws86 formed on a bracket suitably secured to the hopper or other stationary part. Onthe rod is journalled a cam 37 provided "with cam surfaces adapted to engage. across pin lever 38 is secured to the cam and is adapted tof over the quadrant that. the cam willlbe rotated toeither, press th'e pin 35 and the rod towhich it isconnected outwardly or to It is evident that by mo v in g the, lever 38 leave it free to move inwardly. A spring i0 0n the rod 34 engages the bracket on which jaws 86 are formed, and a pin 41 or other part onthe sliding rod. The spring thus tends to press the rod 34 in the direction of the ho pper. WVithinthe hopper on the shaft issecured a clamp 42 having slotted jaws formed thereon which embracethe sliding rod 34. A pin 43 passing through the rod engages in slots in the jaws. The movements of the rod are thus imparted to .the shaft and the nozzles correspondingly adjusted. The forward end of the sliding rod 34 has a roller 44 journalled thereon or is otherwise adapted for engagement with a cam 45, which is formed on or secured to the swinging member 46, which in practice is used to raise from the ground the drag bars of the drill forming devices, which may be employed with the machine. 'Every time therefore that the swinging member 46 is raised to throw the drill forming devices out of action, the rod 34 is actuated through the engagement of the cam 45 with the roller 44 to move the nozzles to their cut-ofi position, this movement taking place independent of any adjustment which maybe efi'ected through the medium of the lever 38 and th cam 37.

The method of operation of the device is briefly as follows. According tothe' nature of the seed being sown or the quantity of seed to be, sown per foot of drill, thenozzles are adjusted relative to the outlets 8 by the rotation of the tubular shaft .10. As soon as the machine is put in motion, the bar 13 forming the seed conveyor begins to reciprocate and air is also blown through the nozzles. The seed is thus regularly fed beneath the shield to the outlets 3 and discharged therefrom by the action of the air blast. It will be noted, however, that for many purposes the air blasts may not be necessary, the feed taking place solely by gravity and by the action Of the conveying means moving the seed under the shields. lVhen air is not being used, the nozzles simply perform the functions of control and cut-off means, being adjusted to vary the feed or to cut it off altogether just as:when air is being used.

What I claim as my invention is 1. In a seeding machine. the combination of a hopper; a seed outlet; a shield above the seed outlet; a conveyor operating to draw seed beneath the shield to the seed outlet; a

rocking cut-ofl' device movable to and from a position to close the seed outlet, the upper surface of the conveying means being curved substantially concentric with the are in which the end of the cut-off device swings.

2. In a seeding machine, the combination of a hopper having an outlet; a shield over the outlet; a nozzle rockable from a given center to vary its position relative to the outlet to regulate the quantity of seed sown; and conveying means adapted to draw seed under the shield, the upper surface of the conveying means being curved approximately conoutlets,

centric with the arcin which the end of the nozzle swings.

3. In a seeding machine, the combination of a hopper having an outlet; a shieldover the outlet; a nozzle rockable from a given center to vary its position relative to the outlet to regulate the quantity of seed ,sown;

and conveying means adapted to draw seed under the shield.

4. In .a seeding machine, the combination of a hopper having an outlet a nozzle rockable from a given center to vary its position relative to the outlet to regulate the quantity of seed sown; a shield over the outlet comprising a part movable with the nozzle and a stationary part in contact with whichthe former part is movable; and conveying meansadapted to draw seed under the shield.

5. In a seeding machine, thecornbination of a hopper having a series of outlets; a suitably -journaled horizontal air pipe; and air nozzles adaptedto blow seedthrough said said nozzles being. adjustable-on the air pipe.

16. In a seeding machine, the combination of a hopper; seed outlets-therefrom; shields supported over said outlets a seatextending longitudinally of the hopper; roller bearings journaled transversely in.- said seat; and a rec procating conveyor having a channel formed in its under side fittingover the rollers'and adapted when reciprocated to convey seed beneath theshields to said outlets.

7. A seeding -machine. constructed as set forth in claim 6 provided with keepers secured to a'stationarypart and engaging the upper surface of. the reciprocating conveyor to hold it in engagement with the rollers.

8. In a seeding machine, the. combination of ahopper; lateral seed outlets therefrom;

a seat extending. lengthwise of the hopper; rollerbearings supported on said seat"; and a reciprocating conveyor supported :on said bearings adapted to convey seedbeneath the shields to said outlets, openings being formed in the seat for the escape .offoreign matter and the like. 1 I

i 9. In a seeding machine,-the combination of ahopper having a series of outlets; conveying means adapted to deliver the seed or other material in front of said outlets; a movable air pipe extending from end to end of said hopper; anda series of nozzles carried upon said air pipe and adapted to move to any required position across said conveying means; an air blower; and means whereby the supply of air through the pipe to the nozzles may be cut off independently of the stopping of the blower.

10. In a seeding machine, the combination of a hopper; a plurality of seed outlets therefrom; shields for said outlets; and a single bar adapted for reciprocating motion for the purpose of carrying seed or material to each of said outlets, said bar being slightly concave at least adjacent the shields and having serrations formed thereon adjacent to the shields to assist in the conveying of the seed beneath the shields. 1 y

11. In a seeding machine, the combination of a hopper; a lateraloutletfrom said hopper; a downpipe applied to said outlet; and a transparent pane for observation located in the said pipe opposite the outlet.

12. In a seeding machine, the combination of a hopper having its lower part formed by an angle bar member, said member. having a series of seed outlets formed therein adjacent to the junction of its legs; and seed down pipes having lugs formed thereon secured to the angle bar member.

13. In a seeding machine, the combination of a hopper having itslower part formed by a metal member, said member having a series of seed outlets formed therein, seed down pipes having lugs formed-thereon secured to the metal member; projections 'on said pipes extending through said outlets and forming cheek pieces at each side of each of said out lets; and stationary shield pieces on the metal member extending over each outlet.

14.11; a seeding machine, the combination of a hopper having its lower part; formed by a metal member, said metal member having a series of lateral seed outlets formed therein; rocking cut-ofi' devices movable to and from a position to close the seed outlets; a shaft to which said cut-ofi' devices areconnected; and metal brackets at the ends of the hopper secured to the metal member and provided with bearings for the shaft.

15. In a seeding machine, the combination of a hopper; a'metal member forming the lower part of the hopper and having a series of lateral seed outlets formed therein;

shields for aid outlets carried by said metal member; means carried by said metal member for conveying seed to each of said outlets; and means supported by said metal member for controlling the discharge of seed through said outlets.

16. In a seeding machine, the combination 'of ahopper having its lower part formed by a metal member, said 'memberhaving a seriesof lateral seed outlets formed therein; shields for said outlets carried by said member; a single'b'ar adapted to reciprocate on the metal member for the purpose of carryingseed to each of said outlets; cut-ofi' deices movable to and from a position to close the seed outlets; a shaft to which said cutoff devices areconnected; hopper ends and metal brackets at the ends of the hopper secured to the metal member and provided with bearings for the shaft, said hopper a position to closethe seed outlet; a rock arm secured to the shaft; a rod engaging the rock arm, slidably supported transversely of the hopper and provided outside the hopper with cam engaging means; a cam lever adapted to engage and actuate the cam en-' gaging means tomove the slidable rod in one direction; and a spring tending to move 1t 1n the opposite direction. d

1 18. In a seeding machine the combination of a hopper having an outlet; a shield over the outlet; ashaft journalled longitudinally of the hopper; a rocking cut-ofi:' device se cured to the shaft and movable to and from a position to close the seed outlet; a rock arm secured to the shaft; a rod engaging the rockarm, slidably supported transversely of the hopperand provided outside the hopper at each end with cam engaging means; a cam lever adapted to engage and actuate the cam engaging means at one end of the rod to move the slidable rod in one direction;

and a springtending to move it in the oppositedirection; aswinging member and a cam thereon adapted to engage the other end of the rod toamove the latter'in opposition to the spring;

Signed at Toronto, Canada, this 27th day of October, 1920.

I THOMAS J. MCBRIDE. 

